New Orleans Saints undefeated start a result of time being on their side

The New Orleans Saints dominance in time of possession this season harkens back to the 1970s when college football teams would line up in the wishbone and eat up huge chunks of clock with a bone-crushing running game. The Saints, if you haven't noticed, don't run the wishbone.

In fact, they're defying convention. The undefeated Saints (5-0) have rushed for only 391 yards this season, an average of 3.1 yards per play. But they've possessed the ball for an average of 34:37 per game to their opponent's 25:22, a big disparity.

That was the case in Sunday's 26-18 victory against the Chicago Bears when the Saints had the ball for 36 minutes to the Bears' 24. Again, you have to rub your eyes because Chicago had more yards offensively, 434-347, than the Saints and New Orleans managed only 66 yards rushing on 28 attempts.

Saints coach Sean Payton and safety Malcolm Jenkins call it complementary football and said the defense is as much a part of the big advantage as the offense.

"We talked a lot in the offseason about playing a complementary football game and understanding what (that means),'' Payton said Monday. "Part of that is possessing the football. You want to score every time you have it.

"We're not purposely trying to create long drives. But be efficient with your plays. And if you're winning on third down, for instance, you stay on the field. Protecting the ball, doing a good job on third down and getting off the field defensively. So there's a lot of things that factor into it.''

The Saints have won the third down conversion and turnover statistical wars this season. They're converting on 44 percent of their third downs (30 of 69) compared to opponent's 36 percent (20 of 56).

And the Saints are plus-six in turnover ratio. The Saints defense has forced 11 turnovers this season, including picking off seven passes.

"We talked about turnovers a lot for a long time around here,'' said Jenkins, who forced a first quarter fumble Sunday by Bears quarterback Jay Cutler on a sack that Cam Jordan recovered at the Chicago 6. "It's obviously something we preach in practice. It's also about putting your players in position to create them. I think that's where the scheme comes in. When it all comes together you get turnovers.''

The Saints had no turnovers to the Bears one Sunday. Chicago actually won the third down conversion battle, making good on four of 10 compared to the Saints' six of 16. But that's a little misleading. Chicago made only two of seven third down conversions in the first half as the Saints gained control.

"We did a great job especially early in the game of getting three and outs,'' Jenkins said. "Or getting shortened drives. And then our offense does a great job of sustaining drives, winning on third down. I guess that's what it really comes down to, third down conversions. We've done a really good job of getting off the field. And our offense has done a great job of converting on third down.

"Time of possession is a team stat. It's offense, defense, special teams. That's showing that we're winning as a team.''

KEEPING OPPONENT OFFBALANCE:New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, whose team faces the Saints on Sunday in Foxboro, Mass., thinks the reason the Saints excel on offense is because of Payton's aggressive play-calling.

"I think he just does a good job of keeping the defense off balance and he attacks really every square inch on the field, from the middle of the field to the sideline to the back end line,'' Belichick said Monday. "So you have a lot to defend with Sean's offense and he has the personnel and scheme and capability to attack everywhere. It's hard to predict what he's going to do because he does a good job of keeping you off balance.''

TOUCHDOWN THOMAS: Saints running back Pierre Thomas showed his value again Sunday with a pair of second-quarter touchdown receptions. His 2-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Drew Brees gave the Saints a 13-0 lead with 5:57 left in the second quarter.

But it was his 25-yard touchdown on screen pass late in the second quarter that turned the momentum squarely to the Saints and gave them a 20-7 halftime lead. Thomas finished with nine catches for 55 yards and the two touchdowns. He rushed for 36 yards on 19 carries.

Thomas has proven himself quite effective on screen plays and Payton said a lot of that has to do with his patience.

"The player who is pretty consistent and excels at running screens is able to sort through some of the games that might take place (at the line of scrimmage),'' Payton said. "It's someone who can make good decisions within a matter of second and a half, two seconds with regards to entering the defense where we want to begin the screen. For some players, that comes easier and for others, it's more challenging because it happens fast.

"He's got pretty good football instincts. Each (screen pass) can change a little bit. He's pretty good with those quick decisions.''

SPECIAL DAY: Payton said he was pleased with the play of the special teams in Sunday's game, especially considering the subpar playing surface and some windy conditions.

Kicker Garrett Hartley was four of four on field goals with kicks of 47, 19, 36 and 48 yards. Punter Thomas Morstead averaged 48.8 yards on four attempts. And the Saints limited one of the NFL's elite return men, Devin Hester.

"I thought the kicking game was outstanding,'' Payton said. "Garrett in those conditions did a great job. The surface was difficult. Obviously, if you're a kicker with the wind kind of gusty a little bit. And I thought Morestead did a great job. And when we had to cover we did.''